There was a worrying criminal case last week about racism and free speech. I say “worrying” not only because of the racist chanting by the individuals who have now been convicted, but more so because they were convicted of a crime at all and received pretty heavy sentences.

The last couple of weeks have been really tough. The issue of the niqab has affected me in ways I wasn’t expecting. It’s triggered all sorts of emotions in me. I think we’ve passed some kind of threshold.